Experimental Greenhouse living in Rotterdam - Interior Design 2016

Vintage ercol Couch

When I was in my teens I read a book called This Other Eden by Ben Elton. Set in the future, where in essence everyone was going to have to live in biodomes as we had destroyed the planet.... There was a lot more to the plot........I am sure this was supposed to be a scary prospect for the reader but I thought this idea of living in a self sufficient bubble of glass was so cool (not the demise of the planet bit)!

So when I saw this experimental home in Rotterdam, Netherlands, it certainly sent my heart racing. The home is an experimental greenhouse designed by students at Rotterdam university, that Plant Stylist Helly and her family are living in for the next three years.

  It features glass windows on the roof that are tilted toward the sun to maximize solar gain, and to increase natural ventilation. Air also comes in through a pipe that's located three feet below ground, which brings in cool air during the summer, and warm air during winter -- thus naturally lowering heating and cooling costs.

Most importantly, there is a large rooftop garden, that produces an array of vegetables and fruits year round for the family of four and their dog -- tomatoes, watermelon, peppers, beets, zucchini and cauliflower. There is also a rainwater collection system, which stores water in rooftop tanks, to be used for irrigation, washing and flushing toilets.

To view more of the home and for regular updates on the families progress visit Helly Scholten's web page here or Instagram here

All Photos by Helly Scholten,

Images from Instagram
Text excerpt from TreeHugger

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Shelter Loves - Interior Design 2016

HAPPY FRI-YAY all! It was hard transitioning back to work after my tropical vacation but I made it and here it is, Friday already! These are the goodies and great "stuff" that caught my eye this week!

1. Amen

2. I mentioned gardening yesterday on the blog.  Every summer I plant my herbs in pots and leave them near my back door! Ummm, these look amazing!!

3. Lauren is so chic!! I am going to a lax fundraiser for my son tonight and we are supposed to dress like pirates! Pirates? Really? I am taking my inspo for my outfit from this shot! Arrghhh....

4. This space is a very layered but it works because the colors were repeated and pattern sizes were varied. I love me a non cookie cutter looking house.  Rebecca de Ravenel's home is just that....

5. I AM buying this light fixture for my living room! Let's just hope my kids don't knock it off the wall. 

6. I love sipping tequila drinks. I'm a bit of a tequila snob though and will only drink the good stuff! (it is so much better) This pretty drink is called, The Paloma (image and recipe found on Goop).

4 1/2 cups of Grapefruit soda

6 limes, lime juice and wedges

A shot of silver tequila

** don't ask why the typing is not cooperating on my blog...I had no time to fix it. Have a fabulous weekend!! xo

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Love the look - gardening style - Interior Design 2016

Purchase the items above here: Shopbop is having a 25% sale on their site today! Be sure not to miss out on the savings!!

1//2//3//4//5//6//7//8//

Last summer Matty, the kids and I planted a vegetable garden. It was a team effort and it rewarded us all summer with a number of herbs and veggies. Last year my goal was to make delicious salads using what we had grown, this year I am going to take that a step further. I also plant flowers and will be adding more boxwood to the mix. I'm continually trying to layer my gardens... I was inspired to put together this "look" after reading a bit more about Susan Hable Smith's beautiful property featured in this month's Better Homes and Gardens.  It is a great interview sharing the creative process she uses for both her art and very popular textile designs sold through her company, Hable Construction. I especially like to use their fabrics ( the Hable sisters began the company) in kid's spaces. Susan looks to her gardens for both color and style direction. She does much of her work at home in an open and airy studio behind her home. Susan had the re-purposed structure moved to her property.

I would love to create a transition between my front and back yard with arbor much like this one.

All Images and more on Susan Hable Smith's company, home and design process here. 

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Day dreaming - Interior Design 2016

As the adage goes: Time flies when you are having fun. It seems in the blink of an eye my Bahamas get away is over and I am back in snowy Boston! I am however thankful I was able to steal away with Matty for a bit. We all need time to rest and rejuvenate. I am continually inspired by my travels. I often look to these memories as inspiration for my work...

I do however look forward to my blogging! So here goes it.

I came across this relaxed yet cohesive young family's home in Elle Decor today. I often dream of building a house, in fact I hope to make that a reality some day.....There are a number of elements seen here that I too would use....The ship lap, black window frames and light wood floors are just a few items on the top of my list. Cheers and happy Tuesday! xx

All images via Elle Decor.  Interior Design: Tamara Magel. Photos:  Rikki Snyder

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Mexico: The World's Largest Crystal Caves - Interior Design 2016

When I first saw these pictures from inside Mexico's Naica mountain I thought they were awesome but presumed they had been put together by a collage artist like Beth Hoekel, or were stills from a retro science fiction film... but they are very much real!!

Mexico's Cueva de los Crystales (Cave of Crystals) contains some of the worlds larges known columns of crystals, with some of the Selenite (gypsum) topping 36 feet long.

Although the mountains of Naica have been mined for a few hundred years it was only in April 2000 that miner brothers Juan and Pedro Sanchez accidentally discovered the Selinite caves when drilling a new tunnel. After informing their boss, and realizing they had stumbled on something rather fabulous, a new route was planned for the tunnel and the caves have largely been preserved.

The temperature in the caves is extremely high (65 c) as under them lie a giant pool of red hot magma. Sadly this was fatal for one robber attempting to steal crystals who had broken through the metal door into the cave and was found dried out inside with carrier bags of crystal fragments....eek.

So to the most important question......can you visit them... ?

Apparently it is possible to organize supervised visits to the top chambers but as the temperatures and dangers are very real, due to the giant pool of magma, the lower caves are very much restricted access only...

I would be happy with a glimpse... where do i sign up?

Mexico's Crystal caves: Selenite

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The hand made home of.... Chris Martin - Interior Design 2016

How stunning is this fairytale cabin that I found over at Inhabitat? The handmade home in Bloomington Indiana is surrounded by woodland and has been built by and lived in by Chris Martin and his family since the 1980's when he decided to build a home that would reflect his families values and needs. The home has been a labour of love and it totally shows doesnt it?

I could see myself here... with a herb garden and a pack of dogs, i would be extremely happy.

To view more of this hand made home visit Inhabitat  here

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Shelter Loves - early edition - Interior Design 2016

Wrapping up my blog week a bit early! Here's what I'm adoring right now!! Have a great one, see you next week y'all! kiss kiss. Be sure to follow me on Insta while I'm away! I'll be posting beautiful vacay shots and some style sneak peeks.

1. Pools and palm trees!
2. The "it" piece this summer is the little white dress. Buy it here!
3. I remind myself of this several times a week...Breathe...
4. I bought these yesterday! They are so cute and very comfy!
5.  I need to find a spot for this adorable  Roberta Roller Rabbit quilt.
6. I love almost anything caned, beds included!! Image via House Beautiful.




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